Xue Yinzhou originally wanted to accompany her, but his presence was too conspicuous. Even though he restrained the aura around him, everyone could see he was extraordinary—a downright dangerous individual, with many speculating about his origins.
Several pairs of eyes in the hall were fixed on him, and if he went with her, it would limit her actions.
Xue Yinzhou could only suppress his worries and whispered, "Take care of yourself, don’t wander too far, and rember to return in half an hour."
"Mm, don’t worry, I do have the ability to protect myself. I’m just going to wander nearby and get so fresh air." Shen Tang nodded in agreent, casually found an excuse, inford the boss, and left the side hall.
The guards at the door didn’t stop her, anyway, she’s just an insignificant small trader, no one cares about her.
After Shen Tang arrived outside the hall, she found a secluded corner, transford agilely into her true form, and leaped onto the wall to take in the scenery of the Imperial Palace.
Every now and then, attendants would pass by along the palace road.
Shen Tang listened to their conversation, intentionally or unintentionally.
When she overheard information about the Emperor, she paused and perked her ears to listen carefully.
"Hey, I heard that His Majesty was furious again this morning, Lord Zhang from the Ministry of Rites almost got executed..."
"Ah? What happened?"
"How would we, re servants, know the affairs of the court? Guess he said sothing displeasing and made His Majesty angry."
"Judging by the ti, the morning assembly should be over, His Majesty is probably going to the rear garden now; when he’s in a bad mood, he goes there for a walk."
"Oh you kid, you’re quite adept at guessing His Majesty’s thoughts, but it’s a pity you’re male, not much use."
"Cough, stop spouting nonsense here, His Majesty is a noble pure-blood Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox, and it’s my honor to serve loyally."
"Forget about honor, keeping your head is what’s important." Another Beastman laughed and cursed, "Let’s go, take a detour, we’d better not go that way; we might have so bad luck."
"..."
The conversation below gradually faded away.
Shen Tang nestled on the wall for a long ti in silence before turning towards the Imperial Garden.
The spring arrives earlier in the Yiyuan Empire, withered branches have already sprouted green buds, growing lushly, tree leaves rustled lightly in the wind.
On the towering walls, the shadow cast by ancient trees just happened to conceal her petite beast form, Shen Tang looked down, taking in almost the entire view of the Imperial Garden.
She waited a long ti and only saw a few scattered palace attendants. She sighed inwardly, it seed she wouldn’t see the Emperor today.
Just as Shen Tang was about to leave, a respectful Beastman’s voice ca from behind.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Shen Tang was struck as if by lightning, stiffening on the spot.
Shen... Shen Li?!
Her eyes widened, her lips trembled wanting to call out, but her throat seed tightly strangled by a pair of large hands.
She wanted to rush over to that person, to touch his face and see if it was as warm and gentle as in her mory, ideally hug him tightly, telling him how hard it’s been for her, how much she missed him during this ti.
But her hands and feet seed bound by ropes, immobile.
Shen Tang only felt her body stiffened, even her brain lost the ability to think, tears uncontrollably stread down as she bit her lips, desperately holding them back.
She repeatedly told herself in her heart, forcing herself to calm down.
Is that man really Shen Li?
Is he the Fox Emperor?
Shen Tang stared firmly at the looming tall figure getting closer.
The Emperor suddenly stopped, turned and instructed his attendant about sothing.
Shen Tang watched him from afar—not clearly, but could still recognize—the man’s appearance was identical to Shen Li, yet their temperants were utterly different.
Shen Li was always smiling to anyone, aristocratic and gentle, like spring rain subtly nourishing things, making one hard not to notice him.
Whereas this Emperor gave her only an endless indifference and strangeness, the majesty of a ruler, unapproachable, distant.
Apart from this sa appearance, she saw no other commonality between them.
Could Shen Li have a twin brother?
Just as Shen Tang was thinking randomly, the Emperor turned and left.
Half an hour passed, the boss should’ve finished discussing the matters, Shen Tang hesitated for a mont, wasting no ti, and turned to disappear.
Shen Tang didn’t know that after she left, the Emperor paused, turned towards a certain direction.
Precisely the direction she left.
The man’s alluring, narrow fox eyes contained traces of wistful complexity, he sighed softly, paused briefly, then also turned and left.
The cat-shaped jade pendant on his waist chid softly.
Upon returning, Qiu Yang heard that the Emperor had been furious in the court, visited the Imperial Garden once, then returned to the palace.
He turned halfway, went to the bedchamber, intending to report urgent matters.
Ji Jiuli reclined on the couch, holding the jade sculpture.
The slender fingers played with the black and white cat jade sculpture bought from a street stall.
Despite having many rare treasures around the Emperor, for so reason, this unremarkable trinket received His Majesty’s favor, hanging on him daily, occasionally taken out to be toyed with.
As Ji Jiuli looked at the jade sculpture in his hand, his handso and elegant face showed a faint hint of affection and longing, seemingly mixed with other more complex emotions.
The palace attendants were all puzzled by His Majesty’s preference for this small jade sculpture and the suggestive expressions he showed.
Witnessing this, Qiu Yang’s heart sank a bit.
He lowered his gaze, burying the grimness and a slight hesitation inwardly, thinking: Sending so many elite assassins, it’s just a matter of killing one female, should have been done by now.
"Cough, Your Majesty, I have matters to report." Qiu Yang coughed softly, summoning back the man’s thoughts.
Ji Jiuli raised his eyes and looked at him indifferently, "What is it? Speak directly."
"This is last month’s expenditure from Zhang Hu’s estate, with a significant unexplained inco still under investigation..." After reporting, Qiu Yang didn’t leave.
He hesitated for a mont, then spoke softly, "Your Majesty, would you like to et the Wu Qing Royal Female? She hasn’t seen you in years and misses you dearly."
Ji Jiuli caressed the jade sculpture in his hand, saying nothing.
Qiu Yang mustered his courage, "Um, Your Majesty, the Wu Qing Royal Female entered the palace today, she has always wanted to et you, even the Head of the Wu Family ca personally, let’s not postpone it this ti."
"...Understood, let them wait in the conference hall." Ji Jiuli casually placed the jade sculpture on the table and got up to leave.
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